


SFmmt0r^nr^0 
of 



REMINISCENCES 



OF 



JOHN DAVIDSON 

A MAINE PIONEER 



communicated to the 
New England Historical and Genealogical Register 

BY 

ALFRED JOHNSON 



BOSTON 
I 9 I 6 






Reprinted from 

The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 

for January, April, and July, 1916 



cm 

•;-: -.a mi 



Stanbope iPcees 

F. H. CILSOM COMPANY 
BOSTON. U.S-A- 



REMINISCENCES 

OF 

JOHN DAVIDSON 

A MAINE PIONEER 



John Davidson, the writer of the following narrative, was a son 
of John Davidson of Windham, N. H., who, as one of the original 
proprietors of Belfast, Me., drew lot No. 10 on the eastern side of 
Belfast Bay, in what is now the town of Searsport. The elder 
Davidson did not go to Belfast, but was represented by his son John, 
who arrived with the first settlers in 1770, being then only nineteen 
years old. Young John Davidson built a log house there and re- 
mained nine j^ears. During the Revolution he left Belfast and 
returned to Windham, which was his home until he reached extreme 
old age. In 1794 his First Division lot in Belfast was conveyed to 
Job Young for £100, and the next year the remainder of his share 
was conveyed to John Cochran for a like sum. In 1829, after the 
death of his wife, Davidson went to live with his son William at 
Lowell, Mass., and there he died 25 Oct. 1835, aged eighty-five years. 
His son Henry, who died at Belfast 26 Jan. 1864, was the only one 
of his children who settled in Maine. 

Davidson's narrative was written in 1832, after he had completed 
his eighty-second year. The original manuscript is now in the 
possession of descendants residing in Belfast, and has been copied for 
the Register by the Misses Annie L. Barr and Grace Hall, of the 
Belfast Free Library. This narrative was used in compiling the 
genealogy of the Davidson family published in Morrison's "History 
of Windham in New Hampshire;" and a few extracts from it, with 
corrected spelHng, may be found in WiUiamson's "History of Bel- 
fast," vol. 1. The manuscript is here reproduced verbatim, except 
for the omission of a few repetitions and of some of the less important 
details. 

[1]* In march 6 1832 

A narative of some of the triels and sufferings of John Davidson and his 
family in time of the Revolutionery war in the yr 1779 with some accounts of 
my religious experience and many other interesting circumstances of life to 
show the wonderful! goodness and mercy of God in preserving me and my 
fammily in time of perrell & Danger in supplying our wants in time of need 

* The figures in brackets indicate the pages of the manuscript. 



80 much as we experenced them and in continuing my life and faculties to 
this great age together with some account of my ancesters according to the 
best of my recollection I not having kept any Journel & this is written with 
my owne hand on this 25 of may in the year 1832 in the 83 year of my age 

I was born in tewcksbury Mass. on a farm now owned or occupyed by 
Mr. Eezadick Rogers S<i farm known by it being calded Bowlands farm, 
march 16th 1750* my ancestors on both My Father & Mothers Side were 
both from Scotland were By profession what was then Protestants they 
embearked to the north of Ireland a place in those days nearly distitute Of 
inhabitents, very remote from the natives of Ireland And after they began 
to call them Irish, and from that they call us Scothirish, so we are cauled so 
to this Day, in that place Called Mennemoref my Father was born, August 
20. 1720 

And in 1728 his Father and Mother Brothers and Sisters and others 
embarked for Amaerica, in consequence chiefly of the following alarming 
circumstence viz. my Greatgrand Father took a Little boy by the name of 
Mc graw who lived with them untill he became a man, then he left them 
af[t]er some time he retiuned accompined by another man, on a pretended 
visit of friendship knowing that money was in the house and all were Ex- 
pected to be abcsent through the night except those Aged couple they from 
pretended kindness ofered to Lodge in the house with them to protect them 
but in the Stillness of midnight when those aged innocent, LFnsuspecting 
patrons — in the Silent repose without the least thought of danger these 
villins arose [2] And with an axe put an end to their existence took the money 
and what they pleased, after pilliging the house Set it on fire And left the 
place — but justice slumbered not in the case Of one — when my Grand 
Father returned the next day Saw his house in ashes and his aged parents 
bones, and McGraw and his friend had absconded, immediate Search was 
made, and McGraw was found — and blood was on His clothes, he confessed 
the whole affair and his Sentence in A court of justice was immediately 
pass<i. and he was publicly jibited the other was not found as I ever heard, 
as apears the murderers and them sort are or were a revangfuU popele and 
my grand father thought it to be too much of a risque to continue there for 
fear of there revenge, he and the family and other reaUtives removed to 
north america State of massachusetts the town of wobourn. 

my Father was then a boy about 8 years old and he was put to Capt 
Timothy Brooks and he continued with him till he was 21 and he after that 
he worked about with one and another till about 25 and then marred Sarah 
Nutt,t and his Father Uncle George and himself remooved into Tukesbury 
and lived there 8 years and my parents had two Daughters and two son born 
on a farm known by it being called Boland farm, the names of us children 
born on said farm are as foUoeth — Sarah — Anna — John and James§ in 
which time my Father and Uncle George, went to windham bought farms 
for them selves, my Father moved on to his it was in may 1752 the two 
Brothers with there wives lived with them here till they all became old and 
all Died there in windham 

iJohn lived with my parents till I was 20 years 2 months 4 days old in 
which time I receieved good instruction from them they exhorted me to 
secret prayer and a good many admonitions and instructions which I en- 
deaveom-ed in some good measiu-e to perform, when I was about 8 or 9 years 
old I was subject [to] fits till about 16 they left me and thrrough the goodness 

* He gives this date according to New Style. In the Vital Records of Tewksbury 
the birth of John Davidson, son of John and Sarah, is given under date of 5 Mar. 1749. 

t Probably Moneymore, co. Londonderry. 

t Sarah McNutt. See Davidson genealogy in History of Windham, pp. 423 et seq. 

§ According to the Vital Records of Tewksbury Sarah was born 23 Jan. 1745, Anna 
20 Nov. 1747, John 5 Mar. 1749, and James was baptized 23 Feb. 1752. 



of god I never have had any after as yet but has enjoyed a good Degree of 
helth except the Sick head eake which has been very aflictive to me neverthe- 
less, my helth has been very good for the most, part which to this Day I have 
great reason to return thanks to almighty [3] God for his goodness to me 

wheni was about 20 years old my Father preposed to purchise a lot right 
of land in the The Township of Belfast and preposed to give it me if I would 
go and Settle on it I excepted his offer My father lived on the farm now 
occupyed by my brother WilUam in Windham N. H. untill the 29 of sept. 
1799 when he died, and while he lived there he had five children viz. Mary. 
William. Jesse, William and Betesy, five of their Children are now hving viz 
John, James, Mary, William and Betsy. 

On the 20 Day of may 1770 1 arived at Belfast raw anough and unaquainted 
with any one at Belfast but Jolm Tuffts, 'tho John Morrison had a lot of 
land that lay along side my land and he and I built a camp betweext us, and 
hved together one summer or season, O Dear I was unaquainted with the 
nature of mankind, tho I had something of an opertunity to be acquainted 
with v;hat wes on board the vessel while we ware on our passage to Belfast 
which was about 30 men women & children bound to Belfast and penobscut 
River the most that belonged to Belfast went ashore before Morison and I 
Did, for there land lay westerly of ours and a httle while after two of the 
shipes hands took Morrisons and my efects into the boat and brought us 
round Moose Point to the south end of our lots of land. Sun then being but 
■ one hour and half high at night, you may judge what a situation we must be 
in the roaring seas on the one hand, and the howUng wilderness on the other, 
and our stoers hurried from the boat and those 2 men that brought us there 
as soon as our efects was out of the boat they left us, and as the tide was far 
out and it a coming in we had to stur our Selves quick so as to have our 
stoars out of the tides way as it apeared likly it would in a short time move 
them, but it would be much to our cost, so before Dark we had them secucer 
from the tide, when this was performed the next I thought of as it was 
growing toward Dark i was going to strike fire — said Morrison we will not 
stay hear for the Indians would kill us before morning he said he ment to see 
Matthew Reed before he slept and away he went 4 miles, and I stoped over 
night with Mr. John Barnet in going 2 miles [4] And staled with him that . 
night, next morning we returned To our stoers found them safe, we at- 
temp[t]ed to, and put up the walls of a camp that Day, the next put on the 
roof covered it with spruce Bark so as to be toUerable comfortable, then we 
began to clear about the camp, and we began to make the opening larger my 
most Perticular work was to cut cordwood and clear the land, as I Had no 
oxen I had to exchange my work for ox work and I got about 50 cords to 
th[e] [lan]ding a pretty large todd* for a vessel the place was new and coasters 
unaquainted with the harbour And I could find no market for my wood till 
it was spoild And I had to set fire to it, for that was the easiest way I could 
Moov it out of the way out from the landing so as to leave thet for Green 
wood, tho it semed a great loss, perhaps as much as 25 Dollors or more, 
(the next season 1771 I sowed 2 bushells of winter Rie and I had betwixt 30 
and 40 bushells,) 

in the month of October 1770 I returned to my Fathers house in windham 
and he had agreed to have me to go and work the insueing winter with Mr 
John Barnett at shoework as I had worked at that work before he thought 
the tread would be some benifet to me some time and so It has in my f ammily. 

In the spring of 1771 1 returned to Belfast and resumed my works of cutting 
cordwood And clearing and prepared two acres of ground on which in the f aU 
I sowed the rie before mentioned 

In January in 1772 I left Belfast for my Fathers house by water in a very 
poor miserebele leekey vessell and a cearless commander it he had plenty of 

• I.e., load. 



6 

Rum in the vessel it was all the stoers he wished to provide, the chief e of the 
stoars that were on boart for ten to live on for ten Days was what we that 
were pasengers took on board as our owne Stoers and toward the last of our 
Passagee I think we eat the last of any thing we had on board without we 
had killed a dog and we threatned his hfe we had no releief with provision 
till all most sundown the ninth Day when as good luck would have it we were 
Driven within wood Island 

we cast anker the next was who v/ill go a Shore, the next was the enquirey, 
not who will go ashore but who has money to pay for some food I no not 
there was one cent on board but what I had in my pocket that was little [5] 
so We our capt and my Self Set out to go ashore in a little punt we had to go 
with paddles about three milds before we could reach the shore there was one 
house there and but one the first the Capt Called for was a mug of flip to put in 
to our empty stomachs all the provesions we could obtain there was one Dry 
fish and half a bushell of frosted bitten spenish Potatoes and having carried 
them to our punt or boat we attemped to gain or reach the vessel but a sudden 
squell came up and we afeared we should be blown of to sea, we Dear not go, 
we returned to the house and waited and as soon as it began to break away 
we attempted to go on board wth our small pittence of stores to releive the 
Suffering of ourselves and those we left on board but now this wind was so 
heigh that we could not have Stopt when we came to the vessel but the men 
from on board hove the end of a rope and the wind bemg high we had like to 
have filled our punt before we could have come on board the vessel, the men 
and rope apeared to be the means of preventing us from going to sea, by this 
time the weather being so sovear our potatoes had another touch of the frost 
tho we boiled sume of them, they and fish were very good. 

next day morning we hove up and come to sale and ventered to sea and 
before Dark we were Driven within kittery point near to Portmouth there 
we let run our anker and I went a shoar and bought some meat and bread 
and after Refreshing our Selves we brought the vessell into the Dock to a 
worf, then I had Done with her without it was to go and see her. She was 
about as full of water as time and tide could fill her, when I come next Day 
morning to see her sunk to the bottom as a stone. how the goodness of 
God is to be seen that he Did not withdraw his Protecting arm a few Days 
sooner, when we were in the vessel at sea, it is wholy of the goodness of the 
almighty god, that he Did Suffer any of us to be preveved to the land. All 
the time we were at sea whather sick or well, cold or warm by Day or by 
night we must be Drewing water out of the hold of the vessel with a pum.p it 
apeared we at that time that we had life and Deth Set before us [6] To be 
leborious prooved to be the preservation of the lives of all on Board that 
vessel, in about two Days after we eat the last of our provision we began to 
have that sharp hunger for food a little over, we were very, very, faint, and 
the longer the worse notwithstanding we must work or Sink, httle I knew 
what sort of a comander or a vessel I was going with or I never should have 
engaged with him 

when I came to Portsmouth I was a stranger and knew no one but Capt 
McFarland (of the vessel I came in) and I entrusted my very good blanket 
my Dear Mother took so much panes to make had it fuUed in a fulling mill 
it was very larg that she made it so if I was out over night it would have been 
a good preservetive against the frost, but he is gone and the blanket likewise 
so I have done with them both. 

after I left Portsmouth I had yes I had a teadious Journy on my feet to 
my Fathers house at Windham not less then 50 milds as the snow was Deep 
and light and very cold I was received as a very w[e]lcome guest 

The next Spring I returned to the eastward and clearing and cutting cord- 
wood was my most perticular work my Brother James cut him self in hay time 
that he cold not work and he brought a yoak of oxen to me and then I could 



Do better while he was with me we cut and hued timber for a Dwelling hous 
and fraimed and raised it, I agreed with and paid a man for eight thousands of 
shingles he was to have them to my landing by the next march, and I came 
to the westward and Did not return till the next June and the Shingels was 
not come, so I was Dissopinted and had to help make them, however I went 
on with my house covered it with boards and the Shingels Dug a suller and 
well stoned them and a Drean from each of them, however singler you may 
think it is to Dig a drean from a well, I thought it would have, some times 
filled with water from so near the surface of the earth it would not be good 
for use in the house 

In the autumn of 1774 I went to my Fathers house and on Nov. 10 Married 
to Mary Lancester * My Father gave her a present of a young cow which with 
one I had before and two oxen was four head of horned cattle we had to begin 
with, with Seven Sheep Nov. 25 we gathered our little all together [7] 
And set out and about 10 days arived at our desired haven Belfast be[i]ng 
the first part of December — not having my house finished we were obhged 
to move into our log Camp — but altho it was cold I persevered in building 
a stone chimney and oven there not being any bricks in that vecinity at that 
time we must do as we could we found the stone oven Do very well, and we 
moved in the cource of the winter — 

my wife always had a fear of the Indians and in March 1775 I was in the 
woods she at her wash tub with her back toward the Dooar She thought what 
should she Do if Indians Should come here now and She alone — and in one 
minit after thought she heard something S[t]ep on the floor She turned round 
and there Stood three Indians Sanups they appeared to be hungry She fed 
them and they left the house peaceably although She was much frighted — 
circumstances of this kind [ojften happned but the same kind Providence 
who has always protectted us from harm saved us from them 

Not ha[v]ing suff[i]cent of hay to keep my little Stock on and having heard 
of a meadow about four or five mUds back in the woods (and I attempted to 
find it without a pilet but as there was no roade and ) i employed a hunter to 
go and Shoe it me I etempeted to find the way hame alone, and I made so 
good a landfall that I fielt so confident I could find it that I endeavoured to 
Do it without a pit a plot [sic, ? without a pilot] I found more grass then I 
stood in need of so I Informed my neighbour Tolford Durham and he joined 
me in cuting and giting it, the nex fryday we Set Out for to find the meadow 
without a pUot, two Sithes and hengings, two Rakes, one pitch fork, one axe, 
one gun, and too Days alowence of provisions and we Set out for the meadow 
and found it not tho we came to a Uttle Rivulet, by it we were brought us 
[sic] to goose river, it led us so that we came to old Mr, John Durhams and we 
staid there till morning and then we set out for the meadow — and Tolfords 
Bro. John Durhams with us, we all were in search of it tUl about noon and then 
found it and al began to moing and cut on Uvely till almost night and then 
John had to leve us for he had to go home alone, and Tolford and I, we cut on 
till about sun Set and then we fixt for home, [he] carried the guns and it was 
my part to carry the axe and mark trees or bushes so as we could find the way 
back when we wisht to return 

[8] Having refreshed ourselves with a Uttle food we set out and by the time 
we came into the high woods tho we had a pocket cumpass it was of no use to 
us on account of the darkness of the night and we could not Discover whether 
we were going right or wrong ... I continued marking, tho I had a very bad 
chance for marking a road it was so dark Tolford would often say, come let 
us camp I would Speak incouriging, to him so we kept moving along till we 
came to a precipus the edge of a swamp, there said Mr Durham we must now 
camp for if we go in there we cannot git out tonight I said to him, you stay 

* Mary Lancaster, daughter of Henry and Dorothy (Harvey) , was born at Amesbury , 
Mass., 16 June 1747. 



8 

here and I will go in a little way and see and feel hoow the going is and let you 
know so I went on and found it very bad, but Deerst not let it be known, but 
said to him come here, you can come heare easi anough, I capt the axe busy 
so he came and we got through, and soon after we Discouered the noise of 
water runing and it was a httle rivlet runmg from that swamp, it popt mto 
my m[i]nd, it was the swamp Mr Houstons brook proceeded from and we 
marked no' more there, but went Down the brook and going eighty Rod, to 
our joy full surprise we came to a bridge on the roade that crossed over that 
brook and we then were within about one quarter of a mild of my house^o I 
got home and Mr Durham had to go but about fourty Rods further Hear 
we experenced much of the goodness of God in preserving us from the jaws 
of the wild beast of the forest which was planty in that country, but Blessed 
and praised be the name of God that caused us to wa[n]der in a wilderness and 
in a dark night and we knew not that we ware in the Right way till we came 
to the Road and Bridge it apears to me now that we had an invisable pilot 
or we could not have come on our way as It now apears we Did, and whan 
I foound Mrs Davidson at home and well and alone no Doubt She was 
lonely but not [9] One word of complaint this was a great blessing and happi- 
ness to both of us. ,,,.,! .1 

After this, we had to stay some Days for good hay wather, and then we 
set out for the meadow the third time we had to find it by the marks we made 
the Saterday night befor and a deficult time we had, but we at last anved at 
the meadow and we went to work and about that time we Discovered an 
old camp near Senterned betweexts John Durhams work and ours and we 
concluded to be together at nights about the time we were to Start for home 
Tolford and Jolm agreed to go Down the goos river in a old bark canoe and 
he soposed Tolford was gone home with me took the canoe and passed down 
the river and Tolford and I parted and he came to where he expected the 
canoe was John and canoe was gone Down the river and poor Tolford left 
he knew not what to Do he had poor walking, John and canoe both gone 
Down the stream and almost Dark, and near the River there was medow- 
ground buches made it very bad treaveling he [c]ould not come amoungst 
them so he had to keep of from the River amongst the tall woods by this 
time DayUght was gone and he said he heard sumthing rushing or rumng as 
he soposed toward him and to get out of the way of it he climb up a tree and 
being Dark he could not see any thing of it by the noise of it he said it came 
to the tree and banged round there for some considerable tune and before 
Daybreak it went away, and he went down after it was light unhurt but I 
beleive very much frighted and found the way to his Fathers house now I 
have told the story much as he told it to me. 

now I wiU endeavior to inform you how I made out to come home, by the 
tune I came out of the meadow ground it was so Dark I could not See the 
mark of an ax in going a httle way I could not know which way was the 
right one and I would Some times run and others Stand Still and this tune 
after runing a considerable time I stopt and hapned to clap my clothes to 
my scinn and theye were very wet with swet and after having many Such 
Spells of runings and Standing while musing I heard an Ox bell, O it seemed 
to rejoice me much and I set out with renewed courage and ran till I came 
amongst them and I rasd the hele lue as loud axtensive as I could 

[10] And frighted them that they run in ahnost every Derection my greatest 
fear was, when I first heard the bell that the cattle would lie Down and the 
bell ceas ringing and if it should I should not know but a short time which 
way to stear, but I went as fast as I could and came to the cattle and I 
raised after et my voice as extensively as I could it made them run ahnost 
in every drection Driving them a little Distance, they came m one after 
another and proved to be a pilot for me, and pretty good travihng for me 
and brought me to a road that led from the middle meadow on goose river 
about four or five miles from my house which cost 8 or 9 miles treavels after 



I left the meadow I was at work in, before I came to my house, the Road the 
cattle brought me to was so little treaveled on being new it was Dificult to 
know where it was in the Dark so as to keep it, when I got home I do not 
think there was a dry thread in my clothes but was wet with swet I found 
Mrs Davidson at home and alone, and withoout a murmui- or complaint 
tho not without a reason if it could have been prevented, for She had been 
left so two much, but thanks and Praise to the name of God for the wounder- 
fuU preservation and care he has had over us when together and apart, and 
preserved me through the Howling wilderness at least eight miles through 
the Darkness of the night and brought me liome in Safty. . . 

[11] . . . I think it was in the Summer of the yr 1776 before we knew that 
the british army had come to a stand so near us as to anker in the Bay near 
the Owls Head harbour which was about thirty miles from Belfast they 
continued there from first to last about two years and then mooved off, about 
that time my neighbour Durham came to my house in a great hurry and could 
Scearcly speak by Seeing the read coats glistering guns and runing he said 
they were in his field a coming toward the road from the shore and seeing us 
about the house Before these men these brittons came so near so as to Dis- 
cover my wife, She had bread baking at the fire I went and took it back, I 
took the keey to lock the Dooar but Did not lock it, as Soon as I saw the men 
I knew two of them viz Capt Strout of sandy point and Mr Black his neigh- 
beur, the chief of the time these men were coming from the shoare to the rod 
I was in the house puting things in order a little Durham said to my wife run 
run she said where shall I run Down celler he said no they will burn it over 
your head run to the woods, so She went to the woods 

And to return to these read coated men tw[e]lve in number of them, they 
ware taken prisoners further east and brought here to Belfast by three men 
and were to be conveyed heare, and they to be halped from one place to 
another till they arive at h[e]adquarters at the westward, and we three John 
Durham Junr Samuel Mitchel and myself took them into a boat and carried 
them in it thirty miles to camden* Som of them, were croos and ill natured 
we three set in the stern of the boat with our guns in good order and loaded 
I think them twelve could have taken us tho we had guns and Sword they had 
Jacknives I think each one had a knife but they did not appear to wish to go 
from or harm us in any way although it was in their pour to h[a]ve carried us 
to them to camsdon and left or d[e]livered them [illegible] Kap Minard to be 
Sent on by another file of men to another place and from that to another run 
till they arrive at Boston at headquarters [12] We retiu-ned to Belfast same 
Day at even had a comfortable pasage nothing harmed us nei[t]her going nor 
coming This I consider the hand of God was and is to be seen yet tho it is a 
greate many years ago such faviors is worthy our remarks 

About this time and about a year after the inhabitents was short of pro- 
vision, on account of our b[e]ing short of aminition partly, as in those days 
m[a]ny were dependent on wild meat which could not be procured without 
amunition if we are nearly out and could not obtain any and knowing col. 
Thomas Gouldthroit was intrusted with a good stock of powder ball and flint 
and if we could contrive any way to receive a way to have a part of what he 
was intrusted with from head quarters So we set out with what amintion 
. we had and our guns in good order and went by water no further then cape 
gilhson harbour about five miles, lest we should be Discovered and left our 
water crafts there and marched through the wood about three miles to the 
fort mr James Nichols and my Self were chosen to go to introduce the subject 
to col. gouldthroit once more we are come to ask for some of the aminision 
you were intrusted with that were in your possession and defence of the in- 
habitence of Belfast as they were Suffering for want of it and we had no other 
way to git it, he was Still obstinate and would not condecend to say anything 
like condecending we told him we were De[te]rm[i]ned to have it if it should 

• The thirty miles must refer to the round trip. 



10 

be by the force of arms and by this time our company was in sight close by 
her[e] as we said h[e]re comes our assistence and you may See them we were 
Determined Not to be treated as the other two men were by him we wanted 
nothing more then what was right for us to have he cooled Down and he 
invited us to ask the men to come in and he gave to each man a pound of 
powder ball and flint And we retu[r]ned that same night to Belfast in good 
Spirits the next we heard of him the Con. he gathered up all and went on 
Board a british vessel and left the country and we have not heard from him 
afterward as yet so that what we received we saved. 

I think it was the same summer it might be a month after this former fray 
took place provisions were very scerce and them that had large famihes had 
hard comming along with them Mr nichols as much as any one, there was 
three vessels [13] Came into the harbous after noon and he bought two bags 
of Indian corn with Butter he carried from home with him And as it was night 
and as he was far from home he said he would leve his corn till morning and 
call then and take it, so he went ashore to Mr Millers and Staid over night, 
the vessel he left his corn and bags in were made prises of and the other 
vessels lilcewise and Nichols could neither Receive bags nor corn, this mans 
name that made prises of these vessels is James Curgill an Amirican he came 
not weak handed for we were but few in number in comperison to him and 
his two hundred men that he brought on board the three vessels he had taken, 
then he came to the fort point at the mouth of Penobscut River near to where 
the fort stood and burned it to ashes, now whan Curgill was here and burned 
the fort that Stood about Eight miles from where I Hved when in Belfast I 
saw Mr Nichols Soon after he had been so served by being Robed of his corn 
and Bags, he said if he ever comes within the length of my arm off sabb[a]th 
Day I w[i]ll blacken his eye for him so I saw no more of nor heard anything 
of him till the next summer, and he came then poor and baging for our 
assistence to try to Set him clear from what he had so unrighteously Done, 
and whan he bm-nt the fort but insted of our assisting him if we had been 
caled into a court of justice we must have been as evidence against him, I 
speake with him and Mr Houston they said they were going to Mr. Clarks 
and in a short time after Nichols came along, he appeared to be in a great 
hurry he asked if I saw Curgill I said I Did see him and Houston going to 
clarks and he went on quick the next I heard of them Nichols asked Curgill 
to come to the Dooar and about the first, Nichols with his fist nockt curgill 
Down and blaken his eye as he said tho houston and dark was there and they 
prevented nichols from having his will on curgill, and I have heard no more 
about Curgill after, nor for burning the fort nor for taking our enemarican 
[sic\ vessels and frusterateing the owners of there entended desire 

I mention these circumstances to Showe the Spirit of the times and some 
of the trials the inhabitents enduered I will mention one circmnstance took 
place to show the Spirit of [sic] Coll. gouldthroit before mention had one of 
my neighbouers came here a Mr Stimpson the only man that was in the 
vecinity Aft[er] I he came here to live hear [14] To Belfast to assist him at 
the fort and with others in the vicinity were under the Cols. Subjection and 
Did pretty much as he said — one Day when the Conl. was at Stimsons on 
a visit towards night his cattle came about the house he walked out to see the 
cattle he fixed his eye on one that was soperior to any other and swore him 
out of his beautifull young cow he said he would Send two men in the morning 
and take her away and cept her and never gave him any pay for her not 
withstanding Stimpson was a poor man and had harde giting along without 
being Robed of his best young cow and he being a poor man could ill Spare 
her and many others arbitrary things the Col. did previous to our going and 
Demanding the amminition at the fort — 

In Sept. 1778 we had a report brought by two friend Indians From canida 
to our field oficers that indianes and tories commanded by britich officers 



11 

ware coming Down on three rivers viz. St. Johns Penobscuts and Cannebeck 
and they were coming so mmiirous as to take and Drive all before them that 
would not take the oath of alejence to king gorge and they would be amungst 
us by the time the leaves of the trees would be as large as a man thumb nale 
the next Spring, we the inhabitents of Belfast had conjectuered that if Such 
forces were comin on such buiseness there would be a fleat to meet them at the 
mouth of the rivers to Eade and asist thine [sic] land forceses with what they • 
stood in need of according to what we had thought of when we saw the fleet 
of EngUsh vessels in the harbour before us and the land forses on our becks and 
we though to [w]eak and few in number and no whare to fly to, we four' 
fammilyes Shiped our Selves on board a Small two mast boat thinking to 
come to long island rother then to stay on the mane land to be mescreed by 
the indiaris lor[6Zof] and I know not what but the wind Drove us back and we 
went to Mr nichols to garrison for the house was made of larger logs and 
would turn a musket ball better, 

we Did not stay there meny Days, for we heard some of the men of Belfast 
had been as a flagotruce to know what they wished for thir answer was, they 
wished to have what we could Spare of provision and they would pay the 
money for for it what they wisht for further that we would lie as nuterls [15] 
And not fight for nor against them, this Story Pleased us so well so we went 
to colectting our pots kittles and putter from where we hid them, we began 
to think by this time all the newes we had received were Tory news, and so 
we went to work tho that Did not last long for the next thursday I received 
a proclamation that all the male members must come on Board our Ship and 
take the oath of alegians to king gorge or abide the consequence what that 
would be I knew not, what could I do I took the proclamation the Sun being 
about two hours and a half high at night I felt resolved that every man in 
town should see or hear this paper before I slept, and lucky I was, when I 
came to the personage I found two men there, that belonged to too other 
Different parts of the Town and by our taking a little trouble on us that 
evening and Desired we Should be at the pasnage as soon as posable after 
Breakfast to try to conclude on what is best to Do in respect of Moets proc- 
lamation, in the morning, in the first place we met to a man and what to Do 
we knew not, in the s[e]cond place there was no road to treavel on for between 
thirty and forty miles if there had been a roads we could not have come that 
way for we had large familys of women and children and we could not carry 
provision to serve us on the road, and it was not to be had on that way, for 
there was neither, folk, victuels, money, nor way to treavel on, and we 
continued there till about noon and nothing Done nor like to be, I spoak and 
said I had a log canoe and before I would go and take the oath of alegence I 
would take my wife and 3 little children into it and try to com away so so 
Capt Solon Stephenson said if you go in that way I will go with you, we will 
Start, in the night, can we not by what David Miller and your son calib can 
Do help us so as to Drive our horned cattle away and so we concluded to come 
away in the next night from Belfast 

so I went home and informed my family of what I had m view or thoughts 
of doing was from one oclock Friday till almost Dark next Day and then 
Started on our Expected tedeous Journey or voige, the young men Did not 
moov the cattle till next morning and then they could not com along till they 
hired a man to help to Drive them, and as we were runing of my canoe from 
Ductrap harbour we Discovered the young men coming on, to the beech to 
cross a large cove as the tide was out [16] Cap Said he would Stay and see 
how or wheather they had all the Cattle with them or not, you had best keep 
along and i will soon overtake you, so I laft him and soon after Dailight was 
veanished and gone there arose a black and windy clowd and we out to sea 
and we without a pilot and herbour, how happy I should have been, to have 
been out of sound of the Swelling Billowes bursting on the flinty rocks tho the 



12 

Sound was all I Knew at that time I had to keep us from being Dashed and 
so to have had watery graves, if such a canoe load of pasangers were ever at 
sea and continued so all night untill morning, and then come ashoar all Safe 
and well, I cannot be a judg of the feelings of others no better then what I 
have before Experinced, therefore I think I never can thank and prays him 
anough for his Protecting arm that Did not let that night be our last night, 
but is yet pertecting and preserving and upholding me and mine and how 
undeserving we are of all these marcies he is bestoing on us every Day of our 
lives. 

While, we had any expectation of our pilot coming to help or Shoe us the 
way there Seemed to be sumthing to incourage us but we lost all that hope 
for we though[t] he was Lost at sea for his canoe was less than ours for he said 
he came about half the way thrugh he thoug[ht] he thought we weare Cast 
away and it apeared he would have his canoe filled and he had hard work to 
keep her above the water and he turned and went beck to Ducktrap and on 
the nex day he came with the young men and cattle what joy and rejoising 
there was, Stevenson at the sight of seeing us and we at seei[n]g him, 

now we have to go to Ducktrap for what Stephenson lef[t] in his canoe we 
were befriended So we obtained the loan of a two mast boat So as to run to 
D[u]cktr[a]p harbur which we went there in a very Short th[i]me tho it took 
us all night to rowe back against the wind and tide and after breakfast we 
gathered our teames together gat our loading on the Slad and all we advenced 
that Day was three miels to a Dutchmans house and we had So bad coming 
along that first 3 miles as we heard of a cart theree miles forward, the capt. 
and myself went to obtain the lone of it to Carry our load on to Georges river, 
our Desire was granted in the morning the capt took his oxin and went after 
the cart and I took mine and went after what he left when we left Camdom 
and we came together and put our loading on the cart [17] . . . and came as 
fer as gegries where it three miles it was very bad treaveUng for man beast 
and cart, when we came to the barn Doar the owner was there and he Swong 
them open and lett us in it was in good Season for it then began to rain a good 
rain a good Shower and the barn capt us and our loading Dry and we Staid 
there all of us ten in number over night, and that Day we came Six miles to 
Mr John Dillaways Just such a man woman Fammily and place that our 
necessety caled for took our sixteen head of horned cattle put them into his 
pastauar turned his to the woods and as he informed me when I went after my 
cattle he said he had them to gather to wont them so we left with him six 
oxen and five cows and a few young cattle, we had to send the cart back to 
gregoryes, this the young men Did, and in there abcence we were helping to 
contrive to help to load a small vessel with wood that belongeg to Boston and 
in a very Short time the young men retu[r]ned with the oxen, and we in a 
short time could be ready to come on board the small schooner and make a 
push for Boston, our younge calf being about old anough for a veal I thought, 
it to be a suitable time to take it along with us and perhaps it would do us as 
much good on board the vessel as it ever would, so we took it on board and 
we found it a good morcel to help to langthen out other provisions so we ten 
same [sic, ? came] on board the Schooner and came D[o]wne the river and put 
to sea, but the wind being light and scant, we put into a harbour and we found 
in that harbour Capt, Harskill commandor of a large topsail sloop lat[e]ly 
from the west indian islands his vesel was loaded with wood and bound to 
Boston they had a good crue of hends four Swevels on board and aminition 
and provision in plenty, the commenders of these two vessels being acquainted 
with Each other, Capt. Harschill was well prepared for wor to what our Capt. 
Mcclening was notwithstanding he concented to keep by and Defend us from 
boats or from that of trifling force as we could not defend ourselves for we 
were of no force we came Down the river and then to sea havsk[i]ll perhaps 
being one Mild ahed of our vessel we obsoverred a boat as we thought rowing 



13 

towards that large sloop [18] . . . and in a few minnits we Discovered a 
swivle Discharged and then another and then the Small armes, as soon as 
Haskill Desisted from fireing they Sprung to there owers and rowed of as 
quick as they could, tho while Harskill was fireing in on them they Dropt 
Down in the botom of the boat and then pooled away heartily 

whan We saw trouble ahead we put about and run into townseans h[a]rbour 
and Hearskill came in after us and we all as one conjectured that the boat that 
Herskill beat oif belonged to a vessel on the other side of the iland Sogwin and 
if we should attemp[t] to go by they would out and take us all, so we were all 
confined in towneand harbour for some Days and a good fair wind as we could 
have wisht for and after Staying for some time and could not here of enimies 
vessels being along Shoar we ventured to Sea and as we wear going from the 
harbour we Discovered three large vessels at a greate Distence from the land 
which we took to be Enemies vessels but being at so large a distance from the 
land that we thought we could clyng close by it and keep out of their way, it 
was clowdy when we went from the harbour it began to rain and continued 
So for some time and it was Dark wather that we could not see them till it 
cleared off a little and the first we saw of any of them was one of them so in 
o\ir way it would have had us but Thanks to good Providence that Portland 
harbour was so neigh to us when we were chased by the enemy that we had 
Such a place of refuge to fly into, and kept us secuer in that place from thurs- 
day to the next monday evening which then we left it then for choise, 

on monday morning I began to feel as tho we aught to be a contriving to 
Set for the wes[t]ward and I Spoak to Capt Steph[e]n[s]on about it, he thought 
it would Do no good the masters of the vassels had been to the commanding 
oficers of the forts and fortifications, he said there is a chance, to take that 
canoe and chetch a few fresh fish my answer was you and the other two yoimg 
men may go and try your lluck of fishing and I will go across the harbom- and 
try what my luck will be, so I croosed the phery and I found the commending 
[19] Oficer of the Place I endaviorered to inform him what I wist for, his 
answer was it is more then my commision is worth he said I would be glad 
to help you but it deth not tho you may gO by land I told him we could not 
go so for we had womin and children and nothing to buy horses and carriges 
with I thought it was as well to be plain hearted as any way I said what would 
be the consequnce sopose I Should agree with some one and come away 
privitly in the night and say but little about it, he said if you have a mind to 
trry that you mist be pretty Still about it and not Express your mind to any 
but them you know to be your friends and espesilar me for I am under oath 
he said he would be glad to halp me if he could, so I felt as much gratifyed by 
him as I Did Expe[c]t to be and more so, so I left him and came to where I 
found men Standing idle and no buisionses going on for it was a Uttle before 
that that Portland was burned it was a very malancoly time chimneys stand- 
ing and houses burned and gone, by this tune I thought it was time for me to 
say something about what I set out for as there was a considerable number of 
men I spake to them all in Jeneral and said can any of you inform me who has 
bread corn to sell the answer was no there is none to be had in town I sade 
why Do you not go to the westward and buy some, there was one young man 
Seemed to answer me most I think his name is Joseph rigs I took him aside 
I asked him if he would Set out to go to the westward if there wes no imbargo 
in the way he said he thougt he should I said and if you feel willmg to start 
tonight before morning and run the venter of your Self and boat, and I will 
Rin the resk of myself and family and pay you what is reasonable when we 
come to Newburyport he said he would go and be back quick and he was as 
good as his word and so he returned and said he would endeaviour to go, and 
said I will come here ... to the boat by ten oclock or as soon as the people 
begins to be still I told him I would endeavour to come at that time 

[20] So I returned to my family and informed them we were a going to start 



14 

in a boat about ten oclock or as soon as people are still I told him I would 
endeavior to come at that time to the boat, or a little before and we set and 
waited till we thought it a suitable time and then we cast of from the worf 
and there we were, we had no wind to sail with but being heigh wather the 
tide saged us from the mouth of the harbour and abought Daybrak or about 
that time the wind began to blow and continued so at Northeast untill it 
brought us a little past Portsmouth in the light of that Day, and when about 
opposet to Portsmouth we Discovered a Ship lyeing without the bar, as we 
thought but when we came neigher the bar we found She was inside and 
we knew not what to Do, while we thought she, the ship was outside the barr we 
flatered our selves we could all hands come on board the ship. Drop the boat 
as[t]earn the ship and all would be well but when we found the ship was within 
we knew not what to Do — we were af eared we would overrun our object but 
we had good knowing Men on board they got 4 oars into the rowlocks and 
four men hold of them, and one man Stood by and Steeded himself by the 
mast and another Stood on his Shoulders, he that was heigest he was to look 
out for breakers and he, all at once, Sang out breakers ahead, he said which 
way to brring her about She was runing on to the north breaker we rowed a 
little further Southardly and let run our grapling for we had not an anker to 
ride buy, and there it was when the waves would burste in to the boat we had 
a wellrune* and a bucket and we would throw it out as fast as it came in and 
so we Stood it all night and in the morning we could See the way in over the 
barr and we arived to newburyport about Sunrise all safe only the women 
being seasick the Day and night before and had not got it heardly over the 
Day we run from Portland to newbury barr the women lost their bonets at 
Sea in Daylight the sea and the wind being high and rough we could not save 
them our boat we came in from Portland to newbury Port was a morses boat 
she had been cut intoo and made longer She had no Deck . . . She had a 
cuddy fore and aft [21] . , . this was the thirtieth Day of June 1779 . . . 
She was full of Dry fish before we fourteen of us pasengers came on board 
which I thought caused hur to be heavy loaded ... if the Almighty had not 
been on our right and on our left hand the s[e]cond night after we left belfast 
and the night we lay at newbury barr it apeares there was nothind in the pour 
of man to help us . . . 

we staid at newbury port from about sunrise till about noon and then 
mooved for heverhill and came no further then Russels pherrey and we Staid 
in the boat over night and it was a cold one the tide tur[n]ed against us and 
we could come no further till next morning and the tide turned in our faviour 
and soon run [22] ... to haverhll Town 

I Stepeted up into the street to see if I could see any one from windham and 
I found Mr John Dinsmoor Esqr ahnost ready to start for Windham with an 
ox cart and no load to carry and he took us on board when we wished to ride 
and weated on us as far as Deacon Samuel Morrisons in Windham Range and 
we came there, and staid at old Mr Willims Thoms over night in the morning 
it was wet and lowring. I walked as far as My Fathers house and he took 
his two horses and came with me and helpt me with my family to his house, > 
this was the ninth [?] Day of July 1779 

parhaps you may think we have come past all our Trouble but now we 
have to begin the world anew and if I had of my property I left at Belfast 
I should have a good beginning without the land, yes of farming utentials 
and househould furniture we had would with sheep and swineherd been a 
great Relieaf to us but what youse is it to repeat these thing over again and 
naver be recowled and nothing in lue for them When the Enemy came into 
Belfast harbour that was our trouble if we could have been transported to a 
land of peace and out of the way of war in a day or two we would have thought 
our selves happy but this was not the case for while we were on our flight we 

• I. e., well room. 



15 

felt happy we were so much further from the Enemy and we hed not time to 
think of what we lost at the Eastward and so we laid it aside as much as we 
could, it being a good time of the year for the labouring man to have Employ 
and I could have as much of that as cept me in employ for the greater part of 
my time and so I Earned Sumthing in that way and when out of a Jobb I 
would go abord and buy Clooth and thread and whan I had taken in so as to 
be socificent to go a pedhng I would go abroad and sell and so I went on in 
these ways tUl Septbr. 

then my Brother Jesse and myself bought a prety good lot of clooth and 
therad and hired a hors between us to go after my cattle to Tohomas town 
near georges River at Mr John Sillaways we could ride one at a time all the 
way Down and found the cattle all in good order and able for there journy 
all stood it well and I mad[e] as much as cleared the expence [23] Of horse 
keeping and hire that is my half, so I Disposeed of two cowes and one calf 
I sold one for money and the other and calf I put for a hors Sadie and bridle 
he was a large and a good one called by the man I had had him off and so he 
was and as long as grass lasted but when that was Done he had to leave of 
work for he could not Eat hay the cowes I put to him was old and sumthing 
tiered of treavling and I hope we made somthing of an even tread, I brought 
four oxen two cowes to my Fathers in Windham and three heffers and the old 
horse that Did not turn to a very good account I had to Sell my largest oxen 
for paper money and when i recieved the pay for them it would not have 
brought more then one cow I lost in the value of two cowes in that tread by 
the Deprusiation of money or his neglect of paying according to agreement 
I bught a pai of young cattle from Mr John hilinds Father and agred to pay 
him for the oxen in about six months from the Date of the note according just 
as it reads in the face of the note the nominal sume and that halpt to make up 
Some of the former Deprusiations good 

The next Spring Apriel 1780 I bought a small Farm in Windham in gould- 
ing rowe and it cost me as much as five hindred and nine Dollars hard money 
the building were miserabley poor tho we moovd into the house uncomfortable 
as it was and lived there we were between fourteen and fifteen years in the 
house we had three sons and two Daughters born in that house and wothout 
much r[e]pair and there we were a very poor family and in debt for my land 
and could Scercly raise provision so as to Supply the fammly, to thinlc of 
buil[d]ing would be vain but as necesity has no law, I was obliged to build 
a Small barn, and then I could co [sic, ? sow] better then before for we could 
Save what we raised. 

after we built the barn I conjectured old Mr Brown must sell his farm soon 
and if I could buy his sixty acres as it lieth along by my forty and had the 
Name of being veery good land they two would make a farm we could Make 
a living on and I would Sell my land at the Eastward and not to go back to 
belfast as it is a place that will always b[e] exposed in time of war to trouble 
not a long time after this there was a vandow in [24] Pelhem not far from our 
house and I Atended and old Mr James Brittan esqr was master of the worke 
and a very good friend of mine I informed him in time of interaiision of what 
I had thought of Doing in respect of buying Broons ferm, so Do John you 
ought to have it it will Suit you and I will help you I said I would be glad to 
have it can you not come here and stay over night and try to see what you 
can Do in the morning he said he would so he cam and in the morning he went 
to See the old folks he the Sqr. said he would be gladd to havethe money you 
owe me and and I D[o] not see but I must have it Broon said he could not 
pay it till he sold his farm Britton said you can sel it to Day if you wissh to 
John Davidson will buy it, so they sent for me, and we began and finished, 
writings and all were concluded before Dark, 

now my friends by this time you are ready to say you have been very 
fortunate I think we have so fer, now if we can be so fortunate to git out of 
debt as we have to git into Debt but we cannot expect that, Tho I think I am 



16 

as willing to try as I was to go into Debt and you have come to your Fathers 
house and you have purchised so much land and all very hendy to carry on 
I know I owe a large Some of money but it is not so bad as tho I had not the 
valine the Brownns lot costs Seven hundred and fifty Dollars hard money, 
one lot of meadow the first I bought of Thomas Willson I had it for about six 
acres for Ninteen Dollars Sixty six cents a sacond lot of meadow I bought of 
Thomas Willson there was not quite three acres and it coast me Sixty Dollars 
hard money, at that time I thought it best to take it although it was Dear 

Now my Dear and imparshal friends as I hope, as I have given you a Uttle 
scitch of my coming along in the world as to temperals but as to Spirituels I 
have been more silent, . . . [25] . . . sometime in the year 1777 I came to our 
Minister Mr Williams for Admision to join his church and was admited . . . 
we had our children Baptiesed ... * 

[28] In 1805 Rev. Saml Harrise was ordained Pastor of the church in 
windham and continued Minister of the people in that place for 17 years with 
little success to appearance although he preached the gospell in its Simplicity 
In Feb. 1822 he began to see sume of the fruits of his labour a few individuels 
began to enquire what they must do to be saved amongst the number was my 
son William and a happy time it prooved to be to him and the greatest part 
of the fammily, it appeared about that time we all had by Devine grace our 
eyes opened that we saw the eveil nature of Sin, and the beauty there is in 
a holy life . . . 

[29] After having found Christ precious to my Sule my first inquiry was 
Lord what wilt thou have me to Do I felt it was time to begin to work for 
him as I was now more then three score years and ten and had Done nothing 
I, thought of my Brothers and Sisters and others of my years with whome I 
had been acquainted for many years in windham whome I feared had been 
living the Same way as I had So i could not rest Sattisfied untill I had Seen 
and talked with those on that subject I therefore took my cane and walked 
from house to house untiU I had seen them all being absent most three Days 
I thought I could convince them of the error of their ways and show them the 
beauty there is in experimental religion but alass. how weak is man I shoed 
my weakness and how little I could Do I found many of them as hard as 
adament and others I beleive from that Did Set up family pray[e]rs who had 
neglected it for years I returned home I could only commeend them to 
God whose Spirit alone is able to melt the hardest hardest heart — 

nearly all those aged people with whome I convened with at that time are 
now in their greaves and I am stiU Spared a living monument of the goodness 
of god It is ten years Sence I hope I began to love Christ and his cause — 
I am 82 years four mon[t]hs old I have always been blesd with good health 
generely as is the case now which is wonderfull for a person of my age I have 
a good appitite and my food reUishes well I sleep well and am in no pain I 
have hade kind friends always — amongst our hands of this world goods to 
be comfortably agreabele a family of children that are agreable, all as I think 
are professesers of Rehgion but Scattered in allmost in every Deriction, my 
youngest is forty two years old I am now and has [sic] been Uving here almost 
thre years and I no not but I [s]hall continue to the end of my time here, She 
the beloved partner of my youth Died 5 day of January 1829 in litchfield we 
lived together Fifty of years her kindness I Shall never forgit I have lived to 
See the work of god prosper I have seen many [30] In windham ten years 
Seince I came into the ofice of christ I have lived to see another revivel in that 
place and I have lived to see another a second r[e]vival in that place which 
was last year 25 fammiUes began at last to joine in fammily prear about one 
time I have lived to see three Churches of the congragational order organized 
in this place [Lowell] containing 1000 members and all Since 1825 — I have 
seen many other churches gro[w] up in this place . . . J. D. 

* A long account (about 2i pages of manuscript) of Mr. Davidson's religious awaken- 
ng, in the year 1822, has been omitted here. 



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